Catskills songwriters, Montana ranchers and a perilous Wisconsin frontier give moviegoers ample reason to pack the car, find a theater and save the arguments for the drive home.
Find the keys, remove the fossilized French fries from the minivan and nominate somebody who can navigate without declaring war on the dashboard. There are movies worth leaving the house for, and the expedition deserves a proper departure, whether your chariot wears wood paneling, sliding doors or a tailgate.
Kingston, New York, makes a persuasive destination. On October 14, Lunatic Dreamers receives its world premiere at Assembly, followed by a performance from its subjects, the Felice Brothers. Tiller Russell's documentary follows the Catskills musicians whose unruly folk-rock has made them a particularly rewarding American export. Watching a band's story and then hearing the musicians play is an excellent arrangement for anyone who habitually complains that the good part ended too soon.
Keep the engine warm. On October 18, Woodstock's Bearsville Theater hosts Little Feat: The Documentary, narrated by Jeff Bridges, with director Jesse Lauter and band members Tony Leone and Scott Sharrard participating in a conversation and live music. Between these screenings, the Hudson Valley is making a strong case for packing an overnight bag and giving the car stereo some competition.
For viewers whose preferred soundtrack includes ominous silence, A Prayer for the Dying entered limited theatrical release on October 9. Dara Van Dusen's frontier drama stars Johnny Flynn and John C. Reilly and takes us to post-Civil War Wisconsin, where the prospects for a peaceful evening deteriorate considerably. Flynn's character serves as sheriff, pastor and undertaker, an alarming concentration of municipal responsibility. An epidemic and an approaching wildfire make his workload worse. This particular visit to the frontier comes with the considerable advantage of a comfortable seat and clearly marked exits.
The Western landscape also has people worth meeting without anyone drawing a revolver. Fresh from its October 9 Montana premiere in Bozeman, Cynthia Matty-Huber's Hard Twist: Through the Lens of Barbara Van Cleve belongs on the screening watchlist. Van Cleve's black-and-white photographs explore ranch life and give women ranchers their due. Her subjects supply a useful reminder that somebody has to do the work before the rest of us can admire the scenery.
Build an evening around whichever of these reaches your neighborhood, or make a festival screening the excuse for a modest road trip. Check the venue and availability before departing: festival engagements and limited releases require a little reconnaissance. Then leave time for a diner supper, an argument over the best seat and the ceremonial purchase of enough popcorn to provision a cattle drive.
Somewhere between the driveway and the closing credits, an ordinary evening can acquire a story of its own. Bring somebody who will discuss the ending all the way home.
Photo: Dominique Hicks / Unsplash.